Today is my turn on the blog tour for Warrior Prince by J. C. Duncan.
Here’s the blurb.
Prince. Mercenary. Exile.
The lost throne of Norway must be won in foreign lands.
1030 AD
Some men are gifted a crown. Others have to fight to claim it.
Exiled from Norway, Harald Sigurdsson, brother to murdered King Olaf, must battle mercilessly for survival in the lands of the Kievan Rus.
His brother’s legacy gifts him a warband of hardened warriors and entry to the court of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. By his wits, sword and skill in battle, Harald must learn not just to survive but to triumph.
He fights for glory, for fame, and to regain his family’s battle-stolen throne. But his greatest challenge may not come from battlefield foes but from those who stand by his side.
The first instalment in a remarkable story of an exiled boy’s incredible journey to become Harald Hardrada; The Hard Ruler and The Last Viking.
Perfect for fans of Matthew Harffy, Peter Gibbons, Bernard Cornwell and Christian Cameron
Review
With a tag line like “Perfect for fans of Matthew Harffy, Peter Gibbons” I immediately took notice.. these writers are my bread and butter.. they get what their readers love and give them it in spades full.. Did I have high expectations? Yep.
Firstly what I loved about this book from the start is that it felt fresh and new.. historical fiction is a well read genre for me but to see Harald Hardrada before he became the man most of know was fascinating!
After King Olaf dies in battle, Harold and Olaf’s other men are forced into exile or face death. It’s not much of a choice but being so downcast after their defeat means it’s even harder going. These men..they have lost everything.. but Harold also has the unenviable task of learning his role with the men and has to grow fast.
The depth of Harold was without fault..you see him struggle.. and adapt with the sheer strength he has within.. determination runs in his veins. I also loved that things didn’t come easy for him. Warriors look for leaders.. but it never felt like that was Harold’s role take on things..he doesn’t just want to become a leader.. he earns it.. he’s just got the passion burning that drives him forward and it’s this that the warriors ultimately see within him.
As is typical of the genre there’s plenty of battles but what sets Warrior Prince apart is the sheer amount of little details.. you can see how much research has went into the story to depict the characters, the period and the battles.
For fans for the genre I’m in no doubt you’ll love this and if I had to some up in one word it’s “depth”. Almost everything I’ve read about Harold has been fascinating but can’t touch upon the depth and intensity that’s been added by J. C. Duncan!
I was hooked and can’t wait to see what happens next in the series, I loved the connections Harold made with the men so excited to see how this grows.
5/5 Stars
To find out more head to Goodreads or to here
My thanks go to @rararesources for having me on the tour, as well as the author and publisher for supplying an ARC to aid my review. As usual though… I’ve bought the book too. At £1.99 It’s a bargain!
Author Bio –
J. C. Duncan is a well-reviewed historical fiction author and amateur bladesmith, with a passion for Vikings.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JCDuncanAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JCDuncanauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.c.duncan/?hl=enn
Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-c-duncan
Why not follow the rest of the tour?
David's Book Blurg 